One Of Us Ain't Smart ...

 I am a little tired this morning. Seems like I was up at least five (maybe more) times during the night to go to the potty. No sitting down, but the liquid drainage ... I don't get how sometimes the meds just like kick into overdrive and work. I peed. I peed again. And again, and again. And who knows how many times in all. I remember thinking during one episode of standing there, draining, that the sleep function on this smart ring is going to show my schedule as all mixed up being up so many times during the night. Nope. It says I had a 97% optimal night. On the visual graph, it does show some shifting from deep to light cycles that were frequent and close together. Maybe that was the bathroom trips? Either way, it says I slept good, but here I am feeling tired.

I think I mentioned in the past couple days that my calendar this week is pretty open. I only have a birthday on it, and my VFW Aux meeting. I do need to call Mayo here in a bit. Friday late in the day they sent a message through the portal, saying something about needing labs done ( I already did the 'monthly' recently) and I needed to schedule. Usually they just schedule them and I concur. So is this a tox screen (I'm about due this month) where generally they send me the Dr's orders, and I can go to a separate lab facility. I don't know. Replies weren't allowed to that message (idiots) so now I have to call. On a Monday morning. At 8am. Wonder how long I will be on hold ...

Today is Day 5 of no cigarettes. Most of the urge has gone. I did have a slight craving yesterday afternoon, as I felt like having one while taking a quick break from my video game I was playing. But easily distracted from the thoughts. Been coughing a bit more, with phlegm occasionally coming up. I am sure it is the lungs and esophagus getting rid of 'crap' from smoking. It should stop in a few days, according to what I read. It may be early, and I don't want to jinx myself, but I think I got this one beat now as well. 

RM is securing multiple lunch dates with me, it seems. If you read her blog, you'll know she is someone that loves to give. She will go out and buy it (within reason) if she knows you need/want it, just to bring a person some happiness. Sometimes it is stuff one never mentioned. Well, lately, I have been the recipient of some things. There was a 4-pack of shorts with a gym-type adjustable waist, that look like cargo shorts. I don't know why she got them (PT? But he didn't care for them?) but I said I would try them. They fit good, and are wonderful when I go in for my Paras. No suspenders/straps/belts to deal with. She always sends some veggies home with the Wife when she does her Farmer's market thing. Knowing I like to make pickles every now and then, Friday she gifted me a lid sealer for jars. Said she got two of them before asking me if I could use one. I had replied not really, but she already had it. I do have a few jars here, and I admit, I am sort of curious how well it works. So I asked how much it was - I don't know. So I said something like, it must be the price of a lunch date with me then. If so, that'd be like 2-3 lunches I owe her. Now it is just the matter of finding a day to do them.

Welp, it is 8am, and I need to call Mayo, so I am outta here...

PeacE

It's A Brand New Day ...

 Today starts a fresh round of Life. Well, at least that is how I am looking at it. I may share too much on here at times, but when it comes to my liver transplant, maybe someone else going through similar will take inspiration from my words - as if I had any readers.

Tuesday I met with the IR for a consult at Mayo. This was specifically to go over the TIPS procedure, the pros/cons of it. After discussion with the IR doctor, and a few questions, I opted to do the procedure. The Wife and I had talked about this back in November, to look at as possible assistance. Basically, it is a bypass to take the pressure of backed up blood flow that the liver cannot handle and redirect it. It is supposed to reduce, if not eliminate, the build-up of the ascites in the abdomen. In my support groups, I have heard some guys say it greatly decreased the number of times they had to do paracentesis and others said they didn't have to do any at all while they waited for their transplant. I'm not aiming high but I would truly like being able to not do a para every week. If I could get it to once a month or longer, it would be much easier to deal with. Either way, the TIPS stays in until the transplant. I have a CT of the Abdomen, then a couple days later the procedure. Oh, and finally scheduled the colonoscopy for late August (like you wanted to know that crap - see what I did there). Oh! And they drained 10L plus said there was still some fluid in there. Sigh.

Brand new day. Brand new start. It's Day One. I smoked the last cigarette I had last night. No longer are there any here at home, or in my car. All I need to do is not buy them. Today I have nothing on my calendar and told the Wife I was not going ANYWHERE today, to reduce the want to stop and get more. She says she has a couple prescriptions to be picked up. Sigh. I probably have yet another one to get as well. But I can use the drive-thru pick up versus going inside. Even if I went inside, I usually pay at the pharmacy, so do not even have to go to the front counter (and see cigarettes).

Friday is our last VFW Riders dinner for awhile. We voted to go quarterly now, as the same 6 or so people were the ones doing it all, all the time. We are getting burned out. So it will be shredded chicken or pork sandwich, Cole slaw, and I am thinking of getting a couple tubs of southern style potato salad. 

Last night as the Wife and I lay in bed doing our phone/tablet or whatevers, I turned to her and asked, I'm supposed to tell you if I am feeling things (in regards to medical especially). She said of course, so I did. I felt ... off. I know when I have a para done, that for a couple days at least I do go through an adjustment: organs adjusting to where they should be, feeling some fatigue and other tiredness, even sometimes a lack of desire to do anything that involves moving around. But this was different. It started early evening, and went through at least until I fell asleep. Still not sure what it was, but at least she knew about it in case something worse happened. I have got to get better at communicating when I do not feel right, or well. This morning I was up at 5:10a and as far as I can tell, feel normal. Whatever I felt last night is gone. I was going to be a bit worried if it persisted through a sleep cycle. 

Alrighty then. I think I over-shared too much today. Oh well. May it live forever on in the internet universe.

PeacE

Day One

 I have been trying to quit smoking cigarettes the past few days. Today it is Day one, as the last two days I ended up having part of one, but it still counts. I made it to about 6pm yesterday, so my hopes are today that I will go all day. I read somewhere that it only takes three days to get over any nicotine addiction, but can take "forever" to change the habits that make us smoke. I had done it before years ago and lasted just over a year. The problem back then was friends smoked, and the bar was allowed smoking inside. Dating my self, but it is what it is...

I didn't really do much yesterday. I did go to my Support/AA group (big book study) and my Home group (welcome newcomers). I had meant to attend another one in the evening where one of the guys from my home group was going to share his story as a speaker, but I lost track of time playing video games and missed it.

Today, nothing on the calendar but I know I need to get the Agenda for Tuesday's House/Entertainment meeting completed and sent. I need to get an email out to the Riders as the Riders dinner is Friday, plus the info from the Convention. Plus play video games.

Okay, I admit it. I still need to chop up veggies as well. Make a quart (or two) of pickles and chill/freeze the others. Good healthy snack food. Gotta keep that weight down!

Bulk trash is tomorrow. The Wife and Youngest got most of the stuff ready and part of it to the curb yesterday. Wife had reached out to the Boys (they live in town) to see if either of the two older ones could help out. Oldest said he would be here this morning, but no sign of him yet and she isn't going to call him. He offered to help at her request and she feels like it would be placing him on a guilt trip. Which, in away, it would be - or a shaming. Today it is mostly hauling the large bags of grass, etc. from the back yard. I tried, but honestly ... I could hardly lift a bag, let alone carry it to the street. I miss my muscles.

Guess I should close this out today. I need to do some quiet time with God and there's a meeting at 11am I'll end up at.

PeacE

Did the Bottom Just Fall Out?

 I started my new job today.

I quit my new job today.

It wasn't as fast, nor as complete, as that. 

Truth is I did start online training for a project that is estimated to last about a week. I got through the training, the team meeting in regards to the project. Details are basically analyzing data breach information and tagging/flagging items of certain content related to personal to finance, to medical. Pretty cool stuff. Got through all of that, and went to log into the software to start, and there is a glitch. I can't get logged in. there were a few others that could not as well. 

As time ticked and I sat waiting for them to let me know things had been fixed/reset/whatever, I got an email from the HR department requesting a second form of ID, and they had to have it today, or I would be let go. I lost my SS card. I noticed it awhile back, but have not been to the SSA offices here as they are closed for COVID restrictions. I don't have a birth certificate available (RM, not your fault... it's just gone somewhere). Needless to say, after an hour, I still could not log in the system, so informed the team lead that I needed to try to get this issue resolved, otherwise I would have to back out of the project.

I went online. SSA website would not let me create an account with them to request a replacement card. I called the local office, and actually spoke to a person (don't know if they were at the office, or a call center somewhere else in town) who directed me to another office that handles all issues with card replacements. I called that office, recording told me that it could only be requested in person at that location. Drove over there (about 15 miles) and the parking lot is empty. I walk tot he doors to see if there is anything posted about what I should do, and a security guards opens the door and says they are closed until further notice. I explained my issue, and he said I have to mail an application for request for a replacement, to that exact office. But who is checking the mail, or doing the work if the office is closed????

So, a wasted trip. I get back home and I look up about getting a copy sent of my birth certificate. It would be coming from Indiana, and the Vital Statistics there...oh man.... it's only $10 plus postage (which isn't listed in the fees). The main website says it is a 25 day process, but on top of that, they are running an additional 45 days over. Next option is a third-party.... but would that be quicker than the governmental branch? It sure is a hell of a lot more expensive. To have A copy (one copy) mailed to me, the fee is $75. The have a copy that can be emailed and I print it out (all in theory, because I don't see how that can be considered certified without the creased stamp like a notary) is only $55. But both options say nothing about how long the process actually takes... Her eis what each third-party site says:

"Each US state offers varying waiting times between 1 to 8 weeks to receive your Vital Records Certificate"

Up to two months?!? Whooooaaaa.... There is no fast solution to my problem. I do not have a passport. Either way I ended up notifying the Team Lead that due to the situation not being able to be resolved quickly, I had to back out of the project. Another email was sent to the recruiting department, explaining what happened, informed them I needed to remove myself from the project, and be placed on BUSY status with the company until I can resolve it all. Once one of them get here, I can go ACTIVE and hopefully get into the next available project. 

But now we are looking at a minimum of two months for either to get here.... and I need both in theory anyways. Might as well finish out the damn year without a job.

Sigh.

PeacE

Starting to Quit ... Again

What a weekend. Had a few good times. Saturday I spent the better part of the afternoon at a Celebration of Life for a friend that had passed a few short weeks ago. Many friends that I have not seen in years were there. Of course, I had a couple drinks too many. I followed up that afternoon taking the family, with RM, PT and the MIL along to Texas Roadhouse. Sunday I slept in, but still made it up to the park for the team's second game of softball, then hung out a couple hours with my buddy Don back at the pub. Don is going to be a grandpas here within the next week sometime, his first, and also going in for a lump removal on the side of his neck. It has me a bit worried, so I am sure how he feels.

Last night, the youngest was sitting on my lap, and we were watching "Man of Steel" the newest Superman movie. I paused it because I wanted to take a smoke break. He asked me the innocent question, "Dad, why do you have to smoke?" I didn't have an answer. So, today I am going to try to quit again. I have one cigarette left in the pack, and will probably smoke it here shortly, then I am out, with no plans to buy more. Will have to see how that goes.

It is a Monday morning, and the return to work comes today as well. This morning I need to run my work truck through emissions. Thankfully it is only just 'up the street' from the house, and I don't have to go way out the way to get there.

PeacE

It Happened Again

I won't bore you with the sore muscles I have today, but I will admit they are there. I felt them as I awoke, before I even got out of bed. But I still went to the gym again today. Which brings me to my other sad point. I weighed in, and had gained about three pounds. Granted, I did eat more this weekend than I should have, and what I ate more of, was probably not as good for me as most foods. So I deserve it. Still pisses me off a bit. I could understand one pound gain, but three?!? C'mon....

So, since I am such a glutton for punishment, I decided I am going to try to stop smoking again. Yesterday morning I finished the last cigarette from my pack, so the first 24 hours is over. Not really craving any so far, but I am sure that will change especially tomorrow night, when I am in the bar. Will have to see how that goes.

It's Babysitting Tuesday, so here in about an hour I will be headed over to waste my morning sitting with the FIL. Yee-fricking-haw.

PeacE